Chillin' That's our Bri
We found this chair last December at Babies R Us and it has been perfect for Bri.  Her own personal just-right-size chair.  She looks like such a big girl when sitting in it properly, then she starts wiggling around and ends up like this.  Honestly, I didn't pose her.  She has been well and getting so big.  35 inches tall.  Wooo.  

Here we are...

Friday night and feeling much better.  Still not 100% but doing fantastic.   Waiting for daddy to come home since he has been out of town most of the week.  He always seems to get BIG SMILES from Bri upon his return.  I know she must miss him when he's gone as do both Ashley and I.  Still trying to schedule Brianna's birthday party with my family in North Florida.  We are all looking forward to a little break.  I hope to get it scheduled soon.    Please continue to pray for Annabel.  Things are better but she is still having some problems.    

I have so much to say.  Since coming home from the hospital, it has been interesting.  One day Brianna is on top of the world, the next day, sleeping most of the day, next day, smiling, happy and awake, next day....lots of resting.  Slowing she is getting better.  It is amazing how much the rotavirus took out of her.  Today we have an appt. with the gastrointerologist and nutritionist.  Since Bri's last appt with them in Oct. she has not been able to pass that 21 lb mark and right now she is below 20 lbs due to being sick.  She's starting to look skinny since she has continued to grow taller so we need to figure out what to do to get her fatter.  Oh, another interesting thing is that since being home, Brianna is sooooo hungry for food by mouth.  Last night, or should I say this morning, she had me up at 2:15 a.m. feeding her bananas and strawberries.  Did the trick, full tummy and back to sleep she went.  

Resting with my Daddy

I must say thank you for the prayers for Annabel.  She is feeling much better.  God is so good.

Have to blog about our older daughter, Ashley.  This past weekend she went to the Prom with Jordan and had a fantastic time.  Proms have changed so much since I went.  Theirs was held at Disney and the theme was "Night in Morroco".  She came home on Cloud 19 (no typo).  Here are a couple of pics of Ashley and her date Jordan.

All together now, ahhhhhhhh

Prayers for Annabel, Please

Our Sweet Annabel is in the hospital and not well.  I ask everyone to pray hard for answers to what is going on with her little body right now and a fast recovery and prayers to keep her family strong.  To learn more you can visit her site at: 

http://annabelgrace.blogspot.com/

Praise God

Praise God and we mean it from the bottom of our hearts.  Brianna came home today from the hospital.  We still have a good 7-10 days before she is over this virus but oh how good it is to be home.  

I can tell you now that we came so close to losing her on Wednesday.  It is unbelieveable how quickly dehydration can take someone down.  When we walked into the peds unit, Brianna was white as a sheet and completely limp in my arms.  They took one look and before I knew it there was a team of medical professionals there and they  immediately took Brianna up to the ped. intensive care unit.  Her heart was working overtime due to the dehydration and because of that and her petite size, it was next to impossible to get an iv in.  Thanks be to God, it was not her time to go and we have her for a little while longer.  Makes me smile with such gratitude.  

Tomorrow we will celebrate two years of life.  Might not sound like much but when told initially it would be less than 24 hours....her life has been an eternity.  We have been so blessed.  So, tomorrow, please say a prayer of thank you for this little life that has been such a blessing to so many.  

 

Good night.  

Brenda, Jerry and Ashley

oh, and our new little puppy dog, Belina.  Pics to follow.  

Not Going Home Today

Just a short note to say Bri is not going home today. Throwing up again and not tolerating her feeds. They are putting in an iv as I type or trying to put one it. Her veins are so small it takes someone really, really good and lucky. They have tried both feet, both hands, her neck and her head. Gave up and called in someone else to try. Last resort is a central line in her groin. Will see. Right now I think we will be here until Sunday. That is ok. God has a plan and if that's it then that's it.

Jerry is staying tonight with Bri and I plan on going home and getting some sleep, if I can sleep.

Wanted to attach this silly pic taken by Jerry with his phone. She got the glasses in an Easter Basket today. Crissy looks pretty fancy in her red glasses (BabyBeBlessedDolls.com) too.

I tell ya

Unbelieveable. We were given the green light to go home. Nurses came in, removed all of the wiring from Bri. Jerry and I were packing up and guess what. Bri threw up! Now, we have to wait a couple of hours to make sure she keeps her food down. Oh well. Rather stay a couple of hours than go home and be back here in a couple of hours.

Brenda

It's Official

Bri tested positive for Rotavirus and although we don't know for certain where she contracted it, we have a pretty good idea. But we will deal with the present and the future which means getting her well. She spent most of the day sleeping which means of course NOW (12:35 am) she is awake and whining quite a bit. Her tummy hurts and I think she has a headache because she keeps rubbing her head rather furiously. The nurse administered some tylenol (she had a fever a couple of hours ago) and I'm just waiting for the sleep to come.

This morning I got to go home and get several hours of sleep while Jerry stayed and took care of the Bri. She ate (by mouth) some banana baby food (with rice) and after tolerating that, she was started on pedialyte and this evening she is being fed formula and keeping it down. If she keeps this up the doc said we should be able to go home Friday. Fingers crossed everyone (prayers too) cause if we don't go home on Friday I'm sure we will be here for the weekend.

Unfortunately we will not be able to go visit my family in the panhandle of Florida and celebrate Bri's birthday on Easter but instead will stay here, get Bri well and go visit in a couple of weeks. Gotta have that 2 year birthday party! Anyway, I best go now and snuggle with a little girl, she needs me.

Brenda

Good News

(Direct from Bri's Daddy)

Hello Everyone,

We have an update for all of you and so far it is good news to report. Brianna is out of ICU and she has her own room. When she checked in yesterday she was severely dehydrated and they had a real hard time finding a vein that would remain stable enough to take fluids. She was not looking so good. Very pale and frail. The doctors are thinking that she has rota virus which I have not googled yet but they still don't know for sure. If she continues to improve at the pace she is on we feel we might be able to get out of here sometime tomorrow. Of course it is dependent on the diagnoses. We are currently waiting on test results. We can not say "thank you" enough for your prayers and concern for our family. Thanks be to God!

I hate to speak too soon but

Brianna is doing better. Much better. It's looking like she might have contracted Rotavirus. She finally fell asleep early this evening after getting a good amount of fluids in her and when she woke up around 9:30 pm she wanted to play. She was kicking the music box on the side of the crib on and off, on and off and I didn't stop her. The doctor suspected that she had rotavirus which would explain the vomiting and nausea but also diarrhea and that didn't happen until she woke up and wooooo the flood gates have been open.

She has finally fallen asleep again and I am going to try and get some sleep as well.

I find it amazing how people all over the world are keeping up with Brianna and praying. Have you looked at the "widget" on her website called Feedjit? It is on the left, down a little bit. It is the world map with the red markings on it showing places in the world where people have looked at Bri's website. Thank you each and every one. The prayers are working. God Bless.

Brenda

Just When You Think It's Safe to Go in the Water

Everything changes. Bri is in the PICU unit at Florida Hospital. Monday night she slept 12 hours. That was the first indicator that something was up. Then Tuesday her color was off just a little. Tuesday night around 9 pm she started throwing up...all night long. This morning I started giving her pedialyte but she still continued to throw up. Off to the pediatrician's office and then sent straight to the hospital to the pediatric floor but after one look they sent her straight up to intensive care and that is where we remain. Jerry was in Chicago for an important meeting but jumped on the first flight and is here now. It is so sad to see our usually happy little Bri so sick. We are very worried. Will post as soon as we find out something.

I had to add this picture. Last Saturday we had family and a few friends over for a small early birthday celebration. Look at her beautiful dress. It was a gift from Annabel and Cathy. (Annabel has one just like it!). Wait until you see the dress she will be wearing on her actual birthday. It is just as special.